Gutloading Earthworms

[pinkypink]

Can anyone give advice on gutloading earthworms? I wanna get a larger container...maybe a 6qt shoebox or 15qt to keep earthworms in. This way Im not going out all the time buying more worms plus I like to make sure I have feeders that have been feeding on good things prior to my feeding them to my critters.

What suggestions do you have on what to feed earthworms before feeding them to our garters?

[ConcinusMan]

A rich compost is about the most nutritional thing you can gutload them with. They are earthworms. They eat stuff that has already been broken down by composting worms and bacteria. In other words, compost that is old enough that it already just looks like black dirt. Composted leaves or other vegetable matter is fine. You can also add a little bone meal for calcium.

[pinkypink]

Ok so if I were to do 6qt shoebox sized how many worms can I keep at a time in this? Would it be best to keep it in the refridge or can they be kept in the room air?

[ConcinusMan]

Heck, I don't know that answer to the first question. As to the second question, worms will stop eating and go dormant at around 42 degrees which is about what a refridgerator for storing food should be at so that's a bit cold for gutloading. However, room temperature is too warm. About 50 degrees is ideal. You could just leave them out for a day or two so they start eating but keep them in a cool part of the house. I would put them back in the fridge after that. Just take them out periodically so they eat.

[pinkypink]

LOL thanks I did NOT know that! Hmmmm Maybe I need to get a temp probe into my storage unit in the basement of my complex and see what the daily highs and lows are...I could keep a larger container down there...even one that could self compost. Thanks ConcinnusMan!

[d_virginiana]

I used to raise my own worms, and we got pretty good results just keeping them in our basement. If you have an area that's cooler than the rest of your house like a storage closet or something that would be about right. Not too hot for them, but not so cold they shut down.

[pinkypink]

Thanks guys...got some great ideas about how to keep more worms!

[ConcinusMan]

I just get mine from a dead end street in the neighborhood. People have been dumping mounds of leaves there for decades. Huge piles of black compost are just full of huge night crawlers. They come already gut loaded.